In the beautiful region of Taimu Mountain in the Fujian Province of Chine is a major tea growing area where some of the world’s best tea is harvested.  One in particular is oolong, specifically Tie Kuan Yin, also called the Iron Goddess.  In fact, when it comes to white tea as well, the Taimu Mountain produces the best you will find.

Throughout this region of China are many small and large farms, a great place where families can experience life to its fullest.

Farms in the Fujiun Province

For instance, you would find a massive farm divided on two mountains that are separated by miles.  In addition to growing wonderful Chinese tea and harvesting it, these farms are also used to raise boars and grow other foods.  This type of farm would likely be owned by the state with workers consisting of men and women, most being quite young.  In fact, many of the workers are just out of high school.

Keep in mind that during the Cultural Revolution of china, once a boy or girl completed high school, they were immediately sent to a rural farm where they would be taught the value of hard labor.  This meant most kids growing up in China were not given an opportunity to go to college, instead being housed together, and even sharing dinner as one, large family.

Plucking Tea Leaves

Many kids have been to a Chinese tea garden, usually with a mother, aunt, or older sister that worked long hours each day plucking leaves for green tea, loose black tea, oolong, and white tea.  Often, the man of the household would have the job of inspecting all the leaves and then weighing them.  Depending on the amount of loose green tea or other tea plucked, the women would be paid accordingly.

Once the women completed a long day of plucking leaves, processing was done at night.  While most farms grow Chinese green tea, other varieties are also grown and harvested.  For processing, the leaves would be dried, which involved both firing and frlying, a process that took all night, which involves the men taking time to eat, usually consisting of a bowl of hot noodles or congee.

Many times, the men’s children will stay to watch, even staying all night while the fathers work.  Some children would simply roll up the sacks in which the tea leaves are stored, using them as blankets and pillows.  Kids being kids, there are stories of some slipping inside the bags and friends performing a prank by tying it up, causing the child to go to the bathroom inside the sack because of not being able to get out.

During the processing of healthy tea leaves, some break, which are then set aside from the whole leaves.  At that time, the mothers and children would spend time going through all the tiny pieces, which was both time-consuming and physically exhausting.  Of course, the more broken leaves processed the more money the mother would make.  The goal with this process was to ensure no broken pieces ended up with the whole tea leaves.

Tea Packaging and Distribution

Additional processing of the Chinese black tea, Chinese white tea, or whatever variety was being worked, followed by packaging so it could be distributed.  All of the tea was then taken by foot from to farm to a tea refinery, which would have been miles away.  While in town, workers would take time to purchase snacks, buy clothing, and even have their hair cut.  After all, in the city, workers could find fancy products from Shanghai and other large Chinese cities.

While parents stay on the farm working, some kids are sent to live in other towns with the grandparents although in the summer, they go back to visit.  Unlike tea grown in other parts of the world, farming tea in China is necessary to have money to live.  If you look at all Chinese families, whether rich or poor, they have lineage to tea farming at some point, which is used as a daily beverage or for entertaining.

Drinking Chinese tea is a custom of China, a time when friends are greeted with a cup or bowl of hot green tea or other variety.  Usually, homemade snacks are served too and different from westernized countries, children of China are not raised on fast food, ice cream, pop and other unhealthy foods and beverages.  The only thing people enjoy is tea and homemade snacks.

Most children grow up and move to a large city where they live a life of modern luxuries but they also miss the simply life associated with growing tea.  Sure, they now have modern appliances and gadgets, convenience stores, and even ice cream, fast food, and pop but the memories from China, often thousands of miles away are missed and cherished.

In fact, many people moved to the United States to attend college, eager for a life of prosperity and more choices.  Some start out with menial jobs, working their way up to a better life.  However, they also discover that life in the States is much different from life in China, being fast paces and hectic.  Instead of the joy and convenience of tea, people drink pop and most find that with such buy lives, there is no time to relax with a cup of tea.

Some people now living in the US who were raised in China will tell you that they have not sat down and enjoyed a cup of tea for 15 or 20 years.  However, upon retuirning home, they remember the joy of special teas and the hard work and processing it takes for production.  Once back in the US, they begin drinking tea again, having the chance to remember the beautiful land from where they came, China, thousands of miles away.

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Without doubt, the one part of the Chinese culture that most people know about it the consumption of tea.  For hundreds of years, Chinese herbal tea has been a part of daily life for the Chinese people.  Sometimes, tea is enjoyed for a special festival, ceremony, or just to relax but it always involves some type of Chinese tea, such as green tea, Chinese black tea, Chinese white tea, flowering tea, and so on, along with a beautiful Chinese tea set.

The process of making and serving tea with a Chinese tea set involves several steps, each important.  Once you learn these steps, you could use your own tea set with the preferred tea so you make a perfect beverage every time.  Therefore, it starts with buying the right tea set first, so the brewing process is done with accuracy.

What is a Chinese Tea Set

The Chinese tea set consists of a tea pot, small tea saucers, tea bowls, and tea trays, which are made in many different styles, colors, and designs.  Every tea set made has specific characteristics that celebrate the Chinese life.  Therefore, more than just a tea set, these accessories for making and serving healthy tea, these sets are considered by the Chinese people as a form of art.

Chinese tea sets are a valued item for the Chinese people, with meaning having designs dedicated to the culture of tea drinking.  In fact, you will find that these sets are broken down into two primary categories.  The first group includes tea sets that have high artistic value and the second group includes Chinese tea sets used for everyday use.

Obviously, the tea sets valued for its artistry are commonly used in authentic Chinese and Japanese tea ceremonies or perhaps a wedding ceremony.  To protect the set, they are carefully in cabinets with closing doors where they can also be put on display.  Then for Chinese tea sets that are used for quiet alone time or time spent with friends are not as fancy and typically stored in the regular kitchen cabinet.  These tea sets are used for daily meals in China just as people in the United States use glasses.

Selecting Tea Sets

When it comes time to select a Chinese tea set for the exotic tea you enjoy most, you will be surprised at how many stores sell them and for a good price.  However, the type of tea set you find would be unique to the type of tea brewed, as well as geographical location.

A prime example would be in the northern and eastern regions of China, floral sets were the most common, which were used daily to serve a variety of herbal teas.  Typically, the tea pots would be large to accommodate enough water for the entire family.  In addition, most of these tea sets were made from ceramic and beautiful.

Now, if you were to shop for Chinese tea sets in the Kangnam area of China, a location where green tea is the tea of choice, the pot would also be made from ceramic but fitted with a lid.  Then in Guangdong, Taiwan, and Fujian, oolong tea varieties are the preferred tea, which means a kettle would be used for brewing.

Keep in mind that if Hong or Gongfu tea were going to be brewed, it would be important to choose only Chinese tea sets made of ceramic, which would enhance flavor.  However, the pristine types of Chinese tea, such as Tontingbileichun, Junshanyinzhen, and Xihulongjing, the Chinese people prefer clear cups and saucers.

If you have ever dined at a Chinese restaurant where green tea is served, it was probably brought to the table in a very tiny cup.  The same is true for green tea enjoyed in China.  The leaves are very fine so smaller cups are standard.  If the tea were placed in a larger cup, followed by the tea ball filled with green tea leaves, the water to tea ratio would be way off.  What happens is that leaves brew too quickly, causing poor flavor and even discolored leaves.

If you enjoy green tea and want a larger quantity, you might consider purchasing a high quality thermos that would keep the tea at the appropriate temperature.  That way, you could use the appropriate ratio of tea leaves to water for the best flavor possible.  Interestingly, when you shop for Chinese tea sets today, opposed to ancient sets, you will find that many include a thermos along with everything else.

In addition to all of this information pertaining to Chinese tea sets, you could also add other accessories to your collection such as tea set covers, cleaning clothes, serving spoons, serving trays, plates, and even specialized containers for brewing.

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